HER Program Evaluation Report

NEW YORK and ADDIS ABABA, May 18, 2016—IIE has released a new report, HER Initiative to Lead Change: The Power of Education, to present the findings from a 2-year evaluation of the Higher Education Readiness (HER) pilot program in Ethiopia, an IIE Initiative. The HER pilot program provided secondary school scholarships to 100 female students from underserved populations in Ethiopia, with the ultimate goal of contributing to their success in secondary school and university enrollment. IIE’s Center for Academic Mobility Research and Impact measured the outcomes and impacts of the cohort of HER students against a comparison group of girls from the same schools who did not participate in HER.

The HER Initiative to Lead Change evaluation report provides evidence of how a comprehensive pathway program like HER can increase high school graduation rates and matriculation to university, enhance female self-confidence and leadership abilities, and equip young women with skills necessary to succeed in life.

The report also outlines how the HER program’s comprehensive approach to girls’ education ensured sustainability and change that went beyond the immediate student impacts, demonstrating the multiplier effect of the program on the girls’ schools and communities.

About the Institute of International Education

The Institute of International Education is a world leader in the international exchange of people and ideas. IIE designs and implements programs of study and training for students, educators, young professionals and trainees from all sectors with funding from government agencies, foundations, and corporations. An independent, not-for-profit organization founded in 1919, IIE has a network of 19 offices and affiliates worldwide and over 1,400 member institutions.

IIE’s presence in Sub-Saharan Africa has spanned over 30 years. From 1979-2001, the USAID-funded South Africa Education Program opened the doors for black South Africans to obtain the knowledge, skills and professional credentials required to succeed in a post-apartheid government. In 2008, IIE established an office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where we implement a strong set of programs in leadership development, organizational effectiveness, and higher education scholarship administration. By creating and administering exchange and training programs, IIE helps develop the talent and human resources needed to address the challenges and harness the opportunities emerging on the African continent.

About the Center for Academic Mobility Research and Impact

IIE’s Center for Academic Mobility Research and Impact provides technical assistance and expertise to international education or leadership programs that want to measure the outputs, outcomes, and impact of their work. IIE’s substantive knowledge of the international exchange and leadership development fields and our methodological expertise drives our study of the impact and multiplier effects of a wide range of programs. Please visit http://www.iie.org for more information. Follow @IIEResearch on Twitter.